Flowerpot making machine



19%. c. w. SCHMIDT FLOWERPOT MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1934 4Sheets-Sheet l 'ArraeA/zys.

Jam 9 11936- c. W. SCHMIDT FLOWERPOT MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 19544 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan, 28 1936..

C. W. SCHMIDT FLOWERPOT MAK I NG MACHI NE Filed Sept. 18, 1934 4Sheets-Sheet 4 4/ 729M @Mm Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNlTED STATES PATENTOFF-[CE FLOWERPOT MAKING MACHINE Carl W. Schmidt, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application"September 18, 1934, "Serial No. 744,541

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machinesfor molding articlesfrom plastic material, and has"particular reference to -machines formolding flower pots from portions of clay.

"Machines for this purposeus'ually include one or more molds, whichconform to the outside shape of the article to be produced and one ormore 'core'sjeac'h of which'cooperates with amold topre'ssthe materialbetween itself and the inside 'wallof the mold toform the article. Inthe simplestform of machines of'this kind there is asingl'e mold and asingle cooperating core axiallyaligned'therevvith, one of "which is'rec'iprocable relatively to the other upon that axis. After formingthearticle the core recedes and suitable means then ejects the article outof the mold, after'which the operative is required to reach in and'place his hand into-the path of the reciprocable "member to remove theejected article.

There is considerable danger with such procedu'rejand in ordertoovercome or minimize the danger to some extent machines have beenprovided'wherein a plurality of molds are arranged so'as to move "oneafter another into the axis of the reciprocating cor'e to form thearticle,

while'theiormed article is'e'j ecte'd-from the molds in a'p'ositio'nother than beneath or in the axis ofthe reciprocating core. Thisnecessitates duplication oipart's and consequent additional care inmaintaining pro er adjustment, increased wear and replacement, inaddition to which the article still has 'to be removed by hand. Evenwith trained operatives hand 'iei'no-val causes blemishesand'ideformation of the soft molded articles.

Other machines have been devised in which automatic means of variouskinds have been provide d'ffiir the "removal of "the molded articles to'someforrn of discharge device which carries them awa from the machine.Such machines, however, -'are very expensive and entail the use of agreatly increased number of partsrequiring constant adjustment and carein order to enable themachineto function properly. Some of thesearticle'removing means are in the form of pushing devices which are onlypartially successful since, in the first place, they are liable to causeblemishes where they engage the soft articles, and at other'times theydo not properly remove or p'fii'sition the articles where required.Rotary devices including carrying arms have also been suggested for thispurpose, but it has been found 'tha'tin order to prevent the pots orarticles from falling off of the arms during the rotation of thearticles from the ejected position to the discharge position, it hasbeen necessary to operate the rotary-discharge means relatively slowly,thus 'liniitingthe production of the machine.

The'objects'of this'invention are to construct a machine for moldingarticles from plastic material mwhich'onlya'single mold and'aCooperatingcore is necessary and withwhich the articles canbeautomatically removed directly from the axisof the mold and core andreleased in a required position; also with which the molded articlescan'be formed with -such rapidity that a relatively simple machine oflow cost will be enabled to equal or exceed the production offa'r'morecostly mach'inesjand whereby the numberof parts requiredar'efew in'number and require the'minimum of attention to maintain themachine in proper operative condition.

'O'ther'objects'of'the invention are to construct amachine'of thischaracter with which portions of the material to be molded areautomatically fed'or introduced into the mold in an improved andsimplified manner in proper timed relation with the movements of thereciprocable core; with which "the molded articles may be ejected fromthe mold by ejector means of improved construction operable in asuperior manner to ejecting means heretofore'provided, so that thearticles are gently shifted or eased out of the mold so as 'to'p'reventdeformation of the articles by the 'pressu're of the ejecting means withthe articles.

In machine's of this kind, particularly when forming flower pots "orother hollow articles, it occasionally happens that a portion of theplastic material, or'a molded and ejected article, instead of remainingin supported position 'upon the ejector, clings 'to the reciprocablecore in its movement to its retracted position and under formerconditions, it has been necessary for the operative to remove thearticle clinging to the core by hand in some manner, which is not onlydangerous but a make-shift and clumsy operation. In addition to this, ifthe molded article clinging to the core is not noticed, it will beintroduced into the mold upon the next stroke of 4 the core and since,in the interval, another portion of the plastic material has alreadybeen introduced into the mold to form the next article, the machinebecomes jammed with possible disastrous results.

It is a further object, therefore, of the invention to provide a machinewith which such an article or any material clinging to the core isautomatically removed after the core has been withdrawn from the moldand before it re-enters the same for the next operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing disclosure thereof and will be particularly pointed out inconnection the appended claims.

In the drawings:'

Fig. l is a front elevation of a machine for forming molded articlesfrom plastic material, embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section. a

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section thereof taken ap proxilnately on theline 33 of Fig. 4 illustrating the means for feeding the portions ofplastic material to the mold of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the machine on an enlarged scale takenapproximately on the line 4 4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing some of the parts of Fig. 4 in anotherposition.

Fig. 6 is a transversavertical section of the machine on the line 66,Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a similar view illustrating the parts in another position. V

Fig. 8 is a fragmmentary side View illustrating the operation of theautomatic means for removing a formed article or material from the coreafter it has been withdrawn from the mold.

Fig. 9 is a rear View of a portion of the machine showingthe means fordriving the various parts thereof in timed relation.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken approximately on theline Ill -l of Fig. 6 illustrating a part of the article removing meanson a larger scale and in a different position to that shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a transverse, vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of partof the machine taken approximately on the line ll'l l, Fig. 5.

12 is a similar view on the line 12-42,

Fig. 10.

13 is a fragmentary horizontal section similar Figlfl, but showing theparts in different operative 7 relation.

, Fig. 14 is a transverse, vertical section, showing section of themachine, showing my improved 7 form the pots.

means for ejecting molded articles from the mold.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary vertical view of part of the drive mechanism ofthe machine.

Fig. 17 is a similar view partly in section, of the means for actuatingthe article ejector.

For the sake of clarity and brevity of description the molded articleswill hereinafter be referred to as pots, butit should be understood thatthe invention is in nowise limited to the production of flower pots,since various features of this invention can be employed in theproduction of molded artieles of other kinds or' forms.

In its general organization, the machine illustrated in the drawings canbe of well-known form, that shown (see Figs. 1 and 2) comprising anupright main frame orcolumn !0 of hollow construction and includingbetween its upper and lower'ends a forwardly projecting bed-plate 9having an aperture therein in which is removably secured a mold l2.Portions of plastic material are introduced one at .a time into thismold to The mold i2 is of hollow form having an annular tapered sidewall IS, an apertured bottom wall l4, and ahorizontal top rim or face lbelow which is an inwardly extending annular shoulder it which conformsto the rim or shoulder of the flower pot indicated at X. The mold E2 ispreferaby provided with a flange I! which engages the top face of thebed-plate H and is provided with holes for the reception of bolts forrigidly securing the mold in place.

This construction permits the interchange of molds of various sizes.

Within the mold, 2, at the lower end thereof, there is arranged the head20 of an ejector. This head comprises a disk having a tapered annularedge which fits the'bottom of the mold and a depending axial stem 2|which extends through the central aperture in the bottom wall l4 of themold and is secured upon the upper end of a vertical rod 22. This rod isarranged to reciprocate between the lower position of the ejector shownin Fig. 7 to an upper position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 in whichthe pot is supported by the ejector in position for removal from themachine.

Arranged in vertical axial alignment with and above the mold I2 is areciprocatory member 24 upon the lower end of which a core 25 issecured, the shape of which corresponds to the shape and dimensions ofthe inner surface of the pot to be formed. The core 25 is movable bymeans of the reciprocatory member 24 from an upper position illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2 to the lower position illustrated in Fig. 7 in which itenters the mold and cooperates therewith to press the portion ofmaterial therein into the form of the pot. The core 25 is provided withan upper annular enlargement 25 which cooperates with thetop marginalrim l 5 of the mold to finish off the horizontal top edge of the pot X.In addition to its reciprocatory motion the core 25 is preferablyrotated by suitable means'whereby the material which is being molded isgiven rotary action in the mold at a speed which is less than the speedof rotation of the core itself due to the relative slipping of thematerial between the stationary mold and the rotatingcore. This actionproduces a smooth finish or surface on the pots. The rotary motion ofthe core 25 also facilitates the withdrawal of the core from thefinished pot.

The means for driving the machine andfor operating the reciprocatorymember 24 and its core 25 includes a pulley .29, Fig. 2, secured upon ahorizontal shaft 3! mounted at the upper end of the column Ill and whichis rotated by a belt 32 deriving its power from a suitable source, notshown. The shaft 3| is provided with a second pulley 34 which connectedby a belt 35 to a pulley 36 fixed upon a horizontal shaft 31, journalledin the lower part of the column 8. Within the column Ill, (see Fig. 2)the shaft 31 is provided with a pinion 38 meshing with and driving agear 38a, having eccentrioally arranged thereon a stud 39 to which oneend of an upright link or crank member 40 is pivoted. The other end ofthis link or crank As is pivoted to a stud 4| on the lower end of avertical rack member 42 suitably guided in the column and which mesheswith and drives a gear wheel 43 fixed upon a horizontal shaft 44 mountedin a bracket 45 extending forwardly from the upper part of the columnl9. Within this bracket 45, at the opposite side of the shaft 44 to thatof the rack 42, is arranged a vertical guide in which the reciprocatorymember 24 slidably engages. This member 24 is provided with a rack 45corresponding to the rack 42 and which meshes with the gear wheel 43 inopposition to the rack 42 before mentioned. It will be obvious from theforegoing that the rotation of the pinion 38 on the shaft 3'! will,through the described connections, effect a reciprocatory motion of therack 42 and a corresponding reciprocation of the member 2'4, but in anopposite direction. The means used for effecting rotary motion of thecore 25 are not shown, since structures of the kind described are wellknown in the art, and the foregoing general description of theorganization of the machine is thought to be sufficient since, as thusfar described, it forms, of itself, no part of the present invention.

The rod 22 of the ejector 20, see Fig. 15, is guided in itsreciprocatory vertical movements in brackets secured to and projectingforwardly from the front of the column l0. There is secured upon the rod22 an adjustable collar 5! which is engageable by a horizontal arm oractuating member 52 which extends forwardly through a vertical slot inthe front wall of the column Ill and has its front end apertured tosurround the rod 22. The rear end of the member 52 is secured upon aslide 54 (see Figs. 2 and 17) which is guided for up and down movementsupon a pair of parallel, upright rods 55 mounted in the hollow lowerportion of the column. The slide 54 is provided with a transverse cambar 55 which is operatively engaged by a suitable roller or operatingmember 51 secured upon the free end of an arm 58 which extends crosswiseof and in front of the gear wheel 38a and is rigidly secured at itsopposite end upon the stud 39 on which the crank or link iii is pivoted.The rotation of the gear wheel 38a, through the described connections,causes an up and down motion of the slide 54 by the engagement of theroller 5'! with the cam 56, this movement in turn impartingcorresponding motion to the ejector rod'22. The cam bar 56 is formedwith a portion 59 forming a dwell so positioned that when the ejectorhead 25 reaches its upper position shown in Fig. 6, the motion of theejector will be arrested and the pot X thereon will be stationarilysupported in this position for a time sufficient for the pot removingmeans, (which will be described later) to move into operative relationwith and remove the pot. When the roller 5? passes out of engagementwith the cam bar 56, the slide 54 and ejector 20 will return to theirlower positions by gravity, in readiness for another upward movement bythe roller 57.

Except as hereinafter described, the ejector and its actuating mechanismcan be of any suitable form and construction which will enable it tofunction as set forth above.

The plastic material of which the pots are formed is divided or preparedin uniform portions x and these portions are placed by hand or bysuitable mechanism, if desired, upon a traveling conveyor or bolt 60,Figs. 1 and 4. Positioned between the discharge and of this conveyor andthe mold I2 is a horizontal chute or channel Bl. This trough 5! is ofarcuate form with its center of curvature disposed approximately uponthe center of an upright rotatable shaft 55 journalled in brackets 10 onthe column Ill. The trough 6| has an inner relatively shallow uprightwall 65 and an outer wall 61 which is preferably somewhat higher thanthe inner wall 66.

Secured to the shaft 65 before mentioned, (see Fig. 3) is a horizontalarm or sweep 58, the free end of which is positioned so as to passclosely over the top edge of the inner wall 56 and is of a length toengage and move with it the portions :1: of the material, one portionwith each rotation of the shaft 65 and the arm 68. The shaft 65 isoperatively connected so as to rotate at a proper speed and in timedrelation to the movements of the core 25 to deliver portions of materialto the mold in alternation with the descent of the core 25 into the mold12. The means for thus actuating the shaft 65 (see Figs. 1, 4 and 9)includes a bevel gear I! fixed on the lower end of the shaft in meshwith a corresponding gear 12 on a horizontal rearwardly extending shaft73 journalled in brackets upon the side of the column II]. The shaft 73is in turn provided with a sprocket wheel 14 which is con nected by achain '55 to another sprocket wheel '56 secured upon a horizontal shaftll journalled in the lower end of the column 49. This shaft carries thegear 38a before mentioned, and through the shaft 37 and pinion 38receives power from the main shaft 3| of the machine. Any other suitablemeans may be provided for driving the shaft 65 at the required speed.

At the side of the bed-plate II and mold 5?. remote from the chute 5ithere is arranged a horizontal belt or conveyor 85, the front end ofwhich passes over a pulley ill. The belt 88 is arranged so that itsupper run travels rearwardly and is positioned to receive the pots afterthey have been ejected and removed by the pot removing means, to belater described. The pulley 81 is secured upon a transverse horizontalshaft 82 to which is also secured a sprocket Wheel 83. This sprocketwheel is connected by a chain as to a small sprocket 85 on anothertransverse horizontal shaft 85 mounted at the rear of the machine andwhich shaft is in turn provided with a bevel gear 8'! meshing with anddriven by a companion bevel gear 88 upon the rear end of the horizontalshaft 'il before mentioned.

The conveyor 58 for delivering the portions of material to the trough 5!is also driven from the shaft 71, the means shown (see Figs. 1 and 9)including a sprocket wheel 92 fixed upon the shaft 7'! between thesprocket l6 and the bevel gear 88. This sprocket wheel 55 is connectedby a chain 9! to another sprocket 92 upon a horizontal shaft 93 mountedin suitable bearings upon a frame member 9 at one side of the machine.This shaft 93 is also provided with a cone pulley 95 connected by a belt95 to a second cone pulley 9? on a parallel shaft 8, also mounted uponthe frame member 94. The shaft 53 has also a sprocket pinion 98 securedthereon which actuates a chain 52) for turning a sprocket wheel it}!upon a third shaft !52 mounted on the member Y;

94. The shaft E82 is connected by sprockets E93, I04 and a chain 55 to ahorizontal shaft which is provided with a pulley which receives one endof and drives the conveyor 53. The other end of the conveyor 65, inturn, passes around a pulley ill! upon a shaft Hi2 which is journalledadjacent and below the receiving end of the trough iii, the parts beingso related that the portions :1: of material will be discharged from theconveyor 58 upon that end of the trough 6!, at suitabl intervals to beengaged by the sweep 68 and delivered thereby to the mold 12, asdescribed.

In accordance with this invention, the means for engaging the ejectedpots as they come to rest above the upper end of the mold l2, includes apair of oppositely arranged, horizontal curved arms or members HGmounted upon or carried by vertical pivots or shafts lll, H2, so as toswing from an open position such as is shown in quently returns to itslower position in the mold,

the pot will be supported in its ejected position by the engagement ofits shoulderupon the arms IIQ. The arms are then operable to move withthe pot supported thereon to a position over the conveyor 853 with thebottom face of the pot close to the upper run thereof. The arms I IIIare then quickly moved to their open position, as shown in Fig. 10, torelease the pot upon the conveyor, to be carried away thereby. The cycleof movement of the pot removing means is completed by the return of theopened arms to a position opposite the mold I2, whereupon they will beagain closed to receive and carry away the next pot which has beenformed and ejected.

The means for mounting and operating the arms III will now be described.Extending from side to side of the machine at the front thereof (seeFig. 1) is a horizontal carriage or bar IZII, the end portions of whichslidably engage in aligned holes or guides in a pair of upwardlyextending brackets I 2I secured to and projecting from the column II].This carriage or bar I25 is reciprocable in its guide IZI, having forthis purpose one end I22 of a link I23 pivotally connected thereto. Theother end of the link I 23 is adjustably pivoted at I24 to the slottedouter end I25 of a crank or rotary arm I23 fixed upon the front end ofthe shaft 93, before mentioned.

The pivots or shafts III--I I2 for the arms IIB are mounted intermediateof the ends of and upon the carriage I24, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, l0 and12, and directly below the carriage or bar I28 one of the shafts, forexample, the shaft H2, is provided with a pinion I28 which is in turnsecured to the top face of a spur gear I29 mounted upon said shaft II 2.Upon the lower face of this gear I29 there is secured a bracket I34which extends away from the gear and is provided with fastening devicesI3I by which an attaching por- 1334 upon the other pivot shaft III andthis gear is in turn also provided with a bracket I38 similar to thebracket I30, just described, and to which the attaching portion I32 ofthe other arm III! is similarly secured. This construction facilitatesthe attachment and removal of arms having different curvatures to fitpots of varying diameters 7 It will be obvious that rotation of one ofthe gears I 29, I 34 will cause the arms III! to swing about theirshafts in unison and in opposite directions or towards and from eachother.

To effect such actuation of the arms I I G, I provide a rack bar I 35which extends horizontally beneath the carriage bar I25 so as tooperatively engage the pinion I28. This rack I35 is secured upon a sideface of a block I 36 disposed in engagement with the front edge or faceof the carriage I23 and is slidable relatively thereto in guides I32secured upon the carriage I29. Endwise movement, therefore, of the blockI36 in This movement of the arms occurs either direction in its guideswill cause the rack I35 to effect rotation of the pinion I28and therebyactuate the arms IIO 'to open or closed position, in accordance with thedirection ofmovement of the block I36.

To cause the proper actuation of the arms to their closed and openpositions to respectively engage a pot in ejected position over the moldI2 and to discharge the pot upon the conveyor '80, I

provide suitable adjustable stops I40, I4I, Figs. 1, and 4-6, which arestationarily positioned to be engaged by an abutment or dependingportion I42 on the sliding block I38. These stops are so disposed thatthey will alternately intercept the abutment I42 and retard furthermovement of the block I36 with the carriage I26 just, prior to theterminaiton of the stroke of the carriage in each direction. Theadjustable stops I40, I4I may be in the form of screws or bolts havingthreaded engagement in holes in upright posts or supports I44 securedupon a fixed horizontal bar or plate I45 extending in parallel relationto and below the carriage I20, being secured for this purpose to thebrackets I2I The operation of the mechanism just described is asfollows: Assuming the arms- H0 to have been just moved to their closedposition in operative relation to an ejected pot disposed on the axis ofthe mold I2 and core 25, the movement of the crank arm I26 will be suchthat the carriage I28 will be started in its reciprocatory movementtowards the right in Figs. 1 and 4 with the arms in the positiondescribed and supporting the pot. The carriage, the block I38, the rackI35, and the arms I III will all remain in the same relation to eachother in the continued movement of the carriage towards the right asexplained, until such time as the arms III] have carried the pot intoposition over the conveyor 89. The right hand stop I4I is so positionedthat it will at this time be engaged by the depending abutment I42 onthe sliding block I36, thereby preventing further movement of this blocktowards the right. The carriage I2Il, however, will continue itsmovement towards the right until its stroke is completed, whichmovement. of the carriage relatively to the block I35 will cause therack I35 carried by the block to effect a rotation of the pinion I28through a movement of approximately This consequently causes the twogears I29 and I34 to rotate in unison, and the arms to swing to an openposition to release and deposit the pot upon the conveyor 80. Themovement of the arms to their open position is so rapid that althoughthe shafts I I I-I I2 are being carried to the right with the carriagethe left hand arm III] will move away from the pot fast enough toprevent it from engaging and tipping the pot over in the continuedmovement of the carriage during the completion of its stroke towards theright. 7

During the time that the pot is being carried toward the right, asexplained, the sweep 58 will be moved by the rotating shaft 65 so as toengage and carry forward another portion a: of material and deposit itin the mold, and approximately at the time that the pot is released anddeposited upon the conveyor 88, the core 25 will have moved intooperative relation to the mold I2 to form another pot.

Upon the return of the carriage I20 in the opposite direction the arms IID will remain in their open position into which they were actuated bythe engagement of the abutment I42 with the stop I 4i, and during thistravel of the carriage toward the left, the core 25 will move upwardlyout of :the mold andat the same time the pot which has justbeen formedwill be ejectedand will come to rest, as shown in Fig. 6, in positionfor removal. The left hand, stop I40 is so positioned that the abutmentI42 will engage it and cause the block I36 to be retarded relatively tothe carriagaand by the continued movement of, the carriage the gears I2,I'3i will rotate in unison, in directions opposite to their rotativemovement just described. By this movement the arms I II] will. swing totheir closed positions. This action takes place directly in front of themold I2 so that as the armslie swing to their closed positions they willmove into operative or supportingrelation to the pot.

It will be seen that by the arrangement of the stop-s, as described, therack IE5 is shifted endwise in one direction and then another toalternately open and. close the arms I Ill just prior to the completionof the stroke of the carriage in each direction. Thus, the carriage,whenmoving toward the right, will. move the closed arms and thepotresting. thereon with it to a position in which itis desired .torelease the pot, and the arms willthen be openeditozrelease the pot. Thearmsare then carried in open position in the opposite direction untilthe rack is again actuated to close the arms.

I preferably provide some means for preventing back-lash andover-running of the rack bar I35, such for example, (see Fig. 14) asaleaf spring I 46 mounted. upon the carriage I25 and whichfrictionallybears upon the top. edge of the block I36. Any other suitable means may,

however, be used.

The means which I provide forremoving any pot or any material whichadheres to the core 25 after it leaves the mold and ascends to its upperposition, comprises an arm or blade-like tool I50 which is preferablysecured upon and extends horizontally from the shaft 65 which carriesthe sweep 58. This tool I56 is disposed approximately opposite theposition which the core 25 assumes at the upper end of its stroke andthe tool at its free end has its edge formed so as to closelyapproximate a side and a portion of the bottom of the core, as shownclearly in Fig. 8. Each time that the core 25'reaches this position thearm or tool I56 is movedby-the shaft 65 so asto movesaid edgethereofclosely past the side and bottom of the core, as shown in Fig. 8 andshould there be a pot or portion of material adhering to the core, therapid rotation of. the latter will cause the tool I50 to remove such potor material by a paring or scraping action. This procedure automaticallyand completely clears any pot or material from the core, withoutattention from the operative.

In the removal of the freshly molded pots, it has been found that themolded clay adheres to a greater extent to the wall of the stationarymold I3 than to the rotating core 25 and consequently, if the core isfirst moved out of engagement with the clay, then the ejector 25 inmoving the freshly molded pot out of the mold l3 has a decided tendencyto deform the pot. I have overcome this tendency by providing meanswhereby the ejector 20 is yieldingly moved upward to a slight extentwith the core, during the initial upward movement of the core, so thatthe freshly molded pot is moved out of contact with the wall of. themold while still in contact with the core 25. In order to accomplishthis result a Washer or disk I55 is provided which is urged by means ofa spring I56 against the lower end of the sleeve 2I of the ejector 2B,the lower end of the spring I56 in the construction shown engaging thebracket 50. After the initial upward movement of the ejector, the diskI55 contacts with the bottom of the mold or other stop, thus preventingfarther upward movement of the ejector by the spring. The ejector 24)is, consequently, normally held by the spring I55. in aposition slightlyabove lowest position. During the molding of the clay, the core 25acting on the clay moves theejector 20 into its lowest position, asshown in Fig. '7, against the action of the spring I56 and immediatelyupon upwardrmovement of the core 25 after completion of the moldingoperation, the ejector 20 will follow the'upward movement of the core 25to separatethe freshly formed pot from the mold 5:3. As-the corecontinues its upward movement, it in turn becomes separated from thefreshly formed pot, which is then supported in the position. shown inFig. 15 by the spring I 56. The removal of the pot from the mold iscompleted when the arm 52 engages the collar 5I to'move the rod22upwardly independently of the spring I55 and the disk I55.

The machine shown in the drawings and described constitutes merely oneembodiment of this invention. and it is not intended to limit theinvention to the, particular construction shown,

I claim as any invention:

1. In amachinefor molding articles from plastic; material, a mold and acore axially aligned therewith and ,one'of which is reciprocable towardand into operativerelation with the other to mold material introduced,into saidmold and then away therefrom to separate said core from themolded article, meansfor ejecting said articleout of said mold, and a,carriage disposed in lateral relation to said mold and reciprocablecrosswise of said mold-andhaving thereon a pair of pivoted,oppositelyswingable arms, arm actuating means operablewhensaid carriageapproximates one end of, its stroke to, swing said arms into closedposition about opposite sides of said article to support thesamewhile insaidejected position, said closed arms being then movable with saidcarriage toward the other end of its stroke to carry said articletherewith, and said arm actuating meansbeingoperable to open said armsand release saidarticle when said carriage approximatessaid other, endofits stroke.

2. In a machine for molding articles from plastic material, a mold and acore axially aligned therewith and one of which is reciprocable towardand into operative relation with the other to mold material introducedinto said mold and then away therefrom to separate said core from themolded article, means for ejecting said article out of said mold, and acarriage disposed in lateral relation to and reciprocable crosswise ofsaid mold and having thereon a pair of pivoted, oppositely swingablearms, arm actuating means, a movable abutment on said arm actuatingmeans, a stop engageable by said abutment when said carriageapproximates one end of its stroke to arrest further movement of saidarms with said carriage and initiate swinging movement of said arms intoclosed position about opposite sides of said article to support the samewhile in said ejected position, said closed arms being then movable withsaid carriage toward the other end of its stroke to carry said articletherewith, and a second stop engageable by said abutment when saidcarriage approximates said other end of its stroke to effect swingingmovement of said arms ,7

0 ticle out of saidmold, and a carriage disposed in late-rial relationto and reciprocable crosswise 0f said mold, a pair of parallel shafts onsaid carriage, intermeshing gears mounted on said shafts to rotate inopposite directions, an arm supported on each shaft to turn with theassociated gears, pinion' on one of said shafts operable V to drive saidgears and swing said arms in unison, pinion lotating'means carried byand movable lengthwise of and relatively to said carriage, a stopeng'ageable by said means when said carriage approaches one end of itsstroke, whereby the movement of said means with said carriage isarrested during the remainder of the stroke of said carriage and saidpinion is rotated to swing "said arms to closed position about oppositesides of said article to support the same, said closed *arms and thearticle thereon being then movable with said carriage during the travelof said carriage in the opposite direction, and a second stop with whichsaid pinion rotating means en= gages as said carriage approaches theother end of its stroke to similarly arrest said means during theremainder of such stroke, whereby said gears will be rotated unison inan opposite direction and said arms swungto open position to releasesaid article. 'i

4. In a machine for molding articles from plastic material, a mold, arotary, reciprocable core axially,aligned therewith and movablealternately into said mold to mold material introduced latter and thenceto a position out of said mold and away from the molded article, arotatable shaft, a scraping tool secured thereon and movable by saidshaft into and out of a position closely adjacent said core each timethe'latter moves away from said mold. to scrape therefrom any moldedarticle or any material adhering to said core, and a sweep also securedon said shaft and movable thereby to engage a portion of material anddeposit is in said mold each time said core moves away therefrom. i1

6. In a machine for molding articles from plastic material, a mold, areciprocable core axially aligned therewith and movable alternately intosaid rnold to mold material introduced into the latter and thence to aposition out of said mold and away from the molded article, a rotatableshaft, a scraping tool secured thereon and movable by said shaft intoand out of a position closely adjacent said core each time the lattermoves away from said mold to scrape therefrom any molded articleor anymaterial adhering to said core, a sweep also secured on said shaft andmovable thereby to engage portion of material and deposit it in saidmold eacl'rtime said core moves away therefrom, means for ejecting themolded article from the; mold, and means operable for movement to aposition over said mold'to engage and support the ejected article,carry'it thence to a position at one side of said mold and there releasesaid article.

'7. In a. machine for molding articles from plastic material a moldjareciprocable core axially aligned therewith and movable into said moldto 2 introduced into the latter and thence out or said mold to separatethe core from the molded article, a reciprocable ejector movable alongsaid axis to shift said'article out of said mold, yielding meansengaging said ejector to resiliently press the ejector against themolded article and maintain: it in contact with said sore during theinitial movement of the latter cout of said mold to thereby ease thearticle out; of engagement with the mold, means which, upon subsequentseparation of the core from the article, acts'oirectly upon said ejectorto shift it and the molded article thereon to a position out of saidmold, and means for removing the molded article from said ejector,

' CABL W. SCHMIDT.

